Havana
Commercial, Vancouver
Restaurant in Vancouver, Canada
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Casual
Why go
Havana is a practical Commercial Drive pick for casual repeat visits, especially lunch, early dinner, or last-minute group plans. The case is convenience rather than accolades: long daily hours, an easy neighbourhood setting, enough flexibility to work across different times of day.
About Havana
For a repeat visit in Vancouver, Havana is a practical pick when the priority is a casual dress code, long daily hours, a direct plan rather than a detail-heavy destination. It is open every day, starts at 11 AM Monday through Friday and 10 AM on weekends, keeps later hours on Friday and Saturday.
Havana is easiest to evaluate by timing. It can work for a daytime stop, an early-evening visit, or a later plan, depending on the day. The safest approach is to choose it for schedule fit and casualness rather than for a specific menu promise.
Use it as a flexible Vancouver regular, not a splurge booking
The clearest reason to choose Havana is convenience. Hours run from 11 AM to 11 PM Monday through Thursday, 11 AM to 12 AM on Friday, 10 AM to 12 AM on Saturday, 10 AM to 11 PM on Sunday, giving more scheduling room than venues built around a narrow evening window.
Do not treat it like a trophy reservation. With no awards, tasting format, named chef, signature dish, or price tier to anchor a special-occasion case, the decision is more practical: choose it when you want Vancouver, casual dress, a broad time window. For a broader scan before committing, use Our full Vancouver restaurants guide; for a bigger evening around the visit, pair the search with Our full Vancouver bars guide or Our full Vancouver hotels guide.
Plan two visits around timing, not a single signature order
Because no signature dishes or cuisine label are listed, the safer strategy is to decide by occasion. Visit one can be a daytime or early-evening stop when the schedule matters most. Visit two can be a Friday or Saturday night plan if the group wants a later finish, since closing runs to 12 AM on those nights. For diners comparing other options, consider Havana alongside Lunch Lady, Nomo Nomo, Sing Sing Commercial, Sula Indian Restaurant, Commercial Drive, The Flamingo Room.
Bottom line: choose Havana when the timing, casual dress code, Vancouver setting are the main reasons to go. Skip it for a formal celebration where accolades, a defined tasting format, or a clear price signal would make the decision easier.
Planning details
- Location
- 1212 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC V5L 3X4, Canada
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- havanavancouver.com
- Phone
- +16042539119
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Havana reads like a lived-in neighbourhood room that borrows Latin-Caribbean references without resorting to pastiche. Warm lighting and worn wood give the space a comfortable, welcoming tone, and the expansive layout—unusual for the Drive—absorbs years of use rather than polishing it away. The bar functions as the venue's heartbeat: animated on weekday evenings and electric on performance nights when theatre-goers and locals mingle. That combination of community anchor and nightlife magnet keeps the place feeling familiar and convivial, an energetic but cozy spot where solo diners and groups both fit in easily.
Best For
Havana is best when you want an animated, social evening that still feels rooted in the neighbourhood. It’s a reliable after-work stop and a natural pre-theatre choice thanks to the attached performance space; on show nights the crowd is a mix of pre-show guests and people drawn by the bar’s own pull. The roomy interior suits group dining and weekend brunches alike, while the bar-focused energy makes dinner feel casual and spirited rather than formal. In short, it’s a go-to for casual hangouts, group meals, and lively evenings on Commercial Drive.
Ordering Tips
Lean into Havana’s signature hits and the bar atmosphere: the Cubano and Pescado Tacos are natural order choices, and the 1212 Brunch Burger anchors weekend service. Expect a busy, animated bar on weekday evenings and especially during performance nights, so plan to arrive early if you want a prime spot at the bar or a relaxed pre-show drink. The room’s warm, worn character rewards lingering—order a few dishes to share and let the neighbourhood rhythm dictate the pace of the night.
Venue details
Ambiance
Vibrant and lively atmosphere with a fun, engaging vibe praised in guest reviews.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
View
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Lively
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Large
Signature Dishes
- Cubano
- Pescado Tacos
- 1212 Brunch Burger
Planning details
Location
1212 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC V5L 3X4, Canada · Directions
Also consider
Also Consider
- The Flamingo Room, Notable alternative
- Lunch Lady, $$ · Vietnamese, $$
- Nomo Nomo, Notable alternative
- Sula Indian Restaurant, Commercial Drive, Notable alternative
- Sing Sing Commercial, Notable alternative
Restaurant context
How Havana compares on Commercial Drive and nearby Vancouver picks
Choose Havana when flexibility matters more than a tightly defined food brief. Compared with Lunch Lady, which has a clearer $$ Vietnamese identity, Havana is the easier general-purpose pick for mixed groups that have not aligned around one cuisine. Lunch Lady is the better choice when the meal itself is the reason for booking; Havana is stronger when timing and Commercial Drive convenience are driving the plan.
For atmosphere-led evenings, The Flamingo Room is the sharper cross-shop if the group wants a more bar-forward night. Sing Sing Commercial is the more direct Commercial Drive alternative when the goal is a casual, social stop in the same neighbourhood. Havana sits in the middle: less specialized on paper, but useful when the group needs a low-pressure default.
If cuisine clarity matters, compare it with Sula Indian Restaurant, Commercial Drive or Nomo Nomo. Sula is the better call when the group specifically wants Indian food on the Drive; Nomo Nomo is the one to check when the group wants a more defined restaurant choice. Havana earns its place for ease, not for a splurge case.
Explore Vancouver
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Havana guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Havana
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Havana | Vancouver | ; | ; | No published awards |
| The Flamingo Room | Vancouver | ; | ; | No published awards |
| Lunch Lady | Vancouver | $$ · Vietnamese | $$ | 2026 Food & Wine Top 10 Global Restaurants · #92025 OAD Casual in Asia Ranked · #1322025 Michelin Bib Gourmand2024 Michelin Bib Gourmand |
| Nomo Nomo | Vancouver | ; | ; | No published awards |
| Sula Indian Restaurant, Commercial Drive | Vancouver | ; | ; | No published awards |
| Sing Sing Commercial | Vancouver | ; | ; | No published awards |
How Havana Vancouver compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What are alternatives to Havana in Vancouver?
Other options to compare with Havana include The Flamingo Room, Lunch Lady, Nomo Nomo, Sula Indian Restaurant, Commercial Drive, Sing Sing Commercial. Use Havana when you want casual dress and broad daily hours in Vancouver.
How far ahead should I book Havana?
For planning, use the hours: Havana is open 11 AM to 11 PM Monday through Thursday, 11 AM to 12 AM Friday, 10 AM to 12 AM Saturday, 10 AM to 11 PM Sunday.
Is daytime or evening better at Havana?
The hours support both daytime and evening planning, but no specific daytime or dinner menu is confirmed. Havana opens at 11 AM Monday through Friday and 10 AM on weekends; later plans fit best on Friday and Saturday, when hours run until 12 AM.
What should I order at Havana?
No cuisine label or signature dishes are listed for Havana. Choose based on the current menu and the kind of visit you want that day.
What should I wear to Havana?
Keep it casual. The dress code for Havana is casual.
Is Havana good for a special occasion?
It can fit a low-key occasion if casual dress and broad hours are what you need. For a formal splurge, there is not enough here to support that kind of decision.
